Tempe is one of the older inner-ring cities in the Valley, so drain calls there often involve aging pipe as well as ordinary clogs. A plumber clears the blockage and can tell you whether the line itself needs attention. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Tempe.
Does a Tempe home's age change how drains are cleaned?
It can. Housing data put the median Tempe home at 1983, older than most of the surrounding suburbs. Houses from that era and before may still have cast iron drains under the slab and clay or other older pipe running to the street. Cast iron scales up inside as it ages, and clay joints can separate enough for roots to get in. A plumber working on that kind of line may use a cutting head or a jetter rather than a basic cable, and a camera inspection is often worth the extra step if the line has backed up before. Newer homes and many apartments in the denser north end have plastic pipe, where clogs are more often grease, wipes or hair.
Does Tempe's hard water play a part?
Tempe Water Utilities reports hardness averaging about 10.9 grains per gallon, with a range from 9.5 to 29 across the system. Minerals do not plug a drain by themselves, but they combine with soap to leave a film on tub and shower lines, and hair catches on it. Homes on the harder end of that range tend to see slow bathroom drains sooner. A water softener reduces scale on the supply side; on the drain side, periodic cleaning keeps the film in check.
When does drain work need a Tempe permit?
Clearing a clog is service work. Tempe's homeowner permit guide says a repair is exempt only when it does not involve replacing or rearranging valves, pipes or fixtures, and separate plumbing permits are required when applicable. So if the plumber finds a cracked section of drain that has to be cut out, expect permit work through the Community Development permit counter at City Hall. The plumber doing the repair can tell you what applies.
Local note
The City of Tempe Water Utilities Division handles water, wastewater and stormwater, so a problem in the public sewer main goes to the city. Water emergencies can be reported to its customer support line at 480-350-2837. Your own building sewer, from the house to the city main, is private, and that is where a plumber starts.
Drain Cleaning questions in Tempe
Are older cast iron and clay drains harder to clean than plastic pipe?
Does hard water make drain clogs worse?
Is a permit needed to have a drain cleared?
Can roots from desert trees and shrubs get into a sewer line?
More plumbing services in Tempe
Drain Cleaning nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: